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THIS YEAR’S ST Patrick’s Day trips abroad may have been stripped down, but delays and uncertainty in forming a new government contributed to civil servants spending €37,334 on hastily-booked flights to Washington for the Taoiseach, his wife and his entourage.
That’s almost four times more than the cost of flights for Enda Kenny’s visit to the US in September.
The official foreign travel report for March shows that the Taoiseach’s return flights, confirmed by officials to have been business-class, cost €9,257.40 for a short visit to Washington DC from 13-15 March.
The same amount was paid for business-class tickets for Enda Kenny’s Chief of Staff Mark Kennelly, and his Private Secretary Nick Reddy.
Economy-class tickets were booked for the Taoiseach’s wife Fionnuala Kenny, costing €3,112.55; the Government Press Secretary Feargal Purcell, costing €3,199.55; and Kenny’s security detail, costing €3,249.55.
Martin Fraser, Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, flew from Dublin to Washington on 13 March, and then from New York to Dublin, having stayed on for another three days, for a cost of €1,690.42.
The Taoiseach’s department told TheJournal.ie the flights were booked through Aer Lingus and involved connections on JetBlue from Boston to Washington, and on British Airways from London to Dublin on the way back.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said:
The talks on government formation resulted in the programme for the visit and flight arrangements having to be finalised at short notice.
Interestingly, however, the spokesperson told us that the flights were booked on 9 March, the day before the first vote for Taoiseach, whose inconclusive result meant Kenny would still be acting Taoiseach and in a position to represent Ireland in the US, from 13-15 March.
Another spokesperson for the Taoiseach said the flights had been arranged “in line with the Department’s travel policy,” and were “in keeping with standard practice”.
Internal government guidelines on foreign travel for ministers and their staff dictate that:
Business class travel should be confined to limited situations where the Head of the Department is satisfied that the additional cost can be justified in relation to the length of the flight and the official business to be conducted.
On the last day of the visit, Kenny met and attended functions with President Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan, and other US officials including Secretary of State John Kerry.
During a speech at the Irish Ambassador’s reception that night, the Taoiseach – then involved in negotiations over the formation of a new government – recounted for guests a conversation with his driver about how his day had been going:
…And then you meet with senators and congressmen about other issues – about Ireland and about Northern Ireland.
Then you go back to the White House and you meet the President again and five or six hundred guests are there in the East Room.
I said ‘the day’s actually going very well’.
He concluded:
I was going to say ‘Bejaysus it’s a pity I have to go back to Ireland and face what I have to face back there’ – but however.
The cost of flights for March’s visit – €37,334 for the Taoiseach and five others – contrasts with that of his last trip to the US, for a UN summit in New York from 23-25 September 2015.
Then, Kenny and Kennelly’s return flights cost €3,412.14 each, and Purcell, Reddy and the Taoiseach’s security detail flew to New York and back for just €699.14 each.
Martin Fraser’s outgoing flight cost €497.01, meaning the total cost of flights for the Taoiseach and his entourage (then also five individuals) was less than €10,000.
You can keep track of expenses in the Taoiseach’s department here.
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On a day where some of the most recognisable landmarks throughout the world turn green- this is a small price to pay. What the government spend on flights we get back 10 fold in tourism. Nonsense of an article.
The wife seated in economy! Would any other country do that to their Prime Minister partner?
I know if I tried that my wife would string me by the balls. If she’s entitled to go then both should travel same class.
I expect the private secretary offered his seat to her
In fairness Denis offers to let them use his jet in lieu of water contracts and other Fine Gael favours..
roinsias O Foghlù, people would be “outraged” if she sat in seats that cost 6k more.
Make FOI request, find something expensive (no analysis needed), outrage! Story done without having to leave the desk.
I AM OUTRAGED…!!!
There you go Journal, is that the reaction of were looking for?
Flights booked late because civil servants can’t look into the future and predict the outcome of a General election shock…!!
it’s not like the entourage couldn’t book the flights last year, and just change the name the day before? it’s not Ryanair and we know that there is always an entourage going to Washington. €3k, even for a last minute economy flight does seem steep, though.
Goog point Alien8. Just shows how useless this crowd are (FG), can’t even plan the yearly trip to the US.
Yeah… that’s just not how operations and corporate/public travel policies work.
There’s a policy document, it’s about 80 pages long. There’s cost centres and approvals, expense claims, taxes, benefit in kind, insurance, risk mitigation, approved fare classes, flexibility requirements, approved suppliers and payment methods. No secretary or assistant will book a flight until it’s completely signed off at every level and stake holder.
Two thins Did Aerlingus upgrade Endas wife and what are the cost of today’s flighte cost probally booked last minute ??
All those checks for one clown and his clueless advisors!
Its not just the cost of the seats today, its the demand for those seats at any given day. If there are 50 seats free with 1 day left before the flight takes off, then the seats will cost a lot less than if there are only 10 seats left.
I’m sure Michael D sits on Sabina’s lap so we’re saving there at least.
Michael D was on my flight to Lake Garda last year. Travelled economy with no fuss and minimal entourage. Humble and genuine man so you’re not far off but the wife wasn’t on his knee
Michael D is the kind of humble man who would say that his flight was to Verona, since there is no Lake Garda airport.
If Michael D is so humble why doesn’t he take a pay cut. €250K plus a massive house in the Phoenix park for a job anyone can do is ridiculous. Haven’t heard a peep out of the chap in months – what does he do? Shake a few hands here and there and attends dinners! All for €250K (plus expenses no doubt). Anyway, economy class has loads of leg room for that chap – why would he need business?
You haven’t heard a peep out of him? I guess you missed the 1916 celebrations where he was at just about every event all over the country.
Oh wow! give him a raise so!
You’re a bitter bitter man John
I look forward to voting for you in the next presidential election John
Diarmaid , he attended one event outside Dublin for the celebrations and that was to Kerry .
Essential to be there entourage and all. A key marketing event for our recovering nation. Why not be smart about it. Who’s the travel agent? €3K for economy! Ah heyor!
Business class would have cost less
A key marketing event for our recovering nation? Back that up. I keep hearing about it. Hot air.
We have plenty of investment from the US because of our coorporate taxation set up… I’ve worked in the US… Anyone with half a brain knows about the incentives here… It’s the talk of the US. Nothing to do with Enda going to see the white house… What does he do there? Tell me… Offer them even better conditions that they don’t about… God wake up a small bit. The global economy is very small echo chamber these days..
Louis, if even 30 Americans visited Ireland for a holiday based on Enda’s visit, the trip paid for itself. There’s more important things to be worried about.
To be fair the men makes 67k/year, he can well afford almost 10k for return flights
If all the trips create one new decent job here from a foreign company we’ll get this back in taxes in 1 year.
Seems to be a lot of sore losers after the election.
Arriving in America on a commercial flight is incredibly embarrassing. Invest in a proper new government jet. What other country doesn’t have one? Stop moaning!
Well said Graham!
Britain. The Prime Minister and Queen always fly British Airways. Now I don’t know if they privately charter the plane but there isn’t a Queen Force 1.
The Queen has private use of a Jet and helicopter whenever she requires.
Both owned by the Army.
Iceland’s Prime minister flies with Icelandair, they have no private jets.
The Queen also has a private ship and a train.
Iceland is the size of a litter tray.
Neal….
Iceland = 103,001 km2
Ireland = 84,421 km2
The Royal train is a throwback from the last vestiges of the Empire and hardly used at all these days. The carriages were built in the 70s, aren’t very luxurious and the royals use commercial services more than they do the train now. It is also highly unlikely to be replaced.
Since 1997 they haven’t had a Royal yacht, Britannia was decommissioned and is now a tourist attraction in Edinburgh. The Royal Barge, the Glorianna, was paid for by private donations and is operated by a charitable Trust so doesn’t cost the public anything.
Most of Ireland’s government business is done between Ireland and Brussels. If there is a case for a government jet (and given it’s use for other purposes, such as patient transport, I think there is) a small business jet would suffice. For long haul travel commercial flights are fine.
Population of Iceland = 330,000
Population of Ireland = 4,500,000.
Yes she does fly BA…
They charter a specially configured 747 they set aside for HRH with all the seats but 1 removed from First Class, she has her own royal suite at Heathrow and Fortnum and Mason are brought into provide all the catering…
Alan, the empire was long gone in the 70′s….
Iceland Debt 14 billion dollars
Ireland Debt 185 billion Euro
Er…… No. BA dont have a special B747 just for HRH. What a waste for a commercial airline who are currently in the process of retireing their B747 fleet.
If the Royal Family want a private plane they hire Cello Aviation an their VIP configured Bae146.
So what?
Not sure that is much of a story. Seems reasonable price to be sending high ranking officials to the US
It something that’s done every year and yes the cost is high but the exposure is worth it.
Stick up the gif of the failed handshake haha priceless
https://www.facebook.com/BELFASTLAD/videos/468643226673967/
Hope that works :)
Haha just making sure this little hand is still there
But it was worth it for him to be over there embarrassing us saying he didn’t want to come back, he’s thrilled to punish us this way
Bought them a jet, costs and image of ministers flying private are too ‘politically sensitive’ to actually use it. Fly commercial and pay twice the running costs of the jet…
*slow clap*
To stop people like you moaning about using a “private jet”. And then you moan anyway
The Jet is out of service a lot because it’s old and decrepit and whingers like you make sure a new one will not be bought
Where are you getting the figures for “Fly commercial and pay twice the running costs of the jet”? the jet cost the last government over €1M a year. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/government-jet-costs-reach-4-4-in-three-years-since-coalition-came-to-power-1.1783420
Obviously didn’t use Sky Scanner
Yea, it would have been €500 cheaper if they flew via Shannon with a 8 hour layover in Atlanta
SO? Are we supposed to be thrust into a fit of rage over this? In 2014, figures were released that the government jet cost €4.4M for the 3 years the previous government were in power to that date. Media spin was: Government jet = Bad. Now that they are flying commercial airlines, its the same story, release the costs of flights that had to be booked at short notice as there was an election 4 weeks earlier. This time its: Government using commercial airlines = bad. Maybe we should get dragons line in Game of Thrones, but im sure if they did, the media would complain about the cost of housing and feeding the dragons!
Look at the head of Kenny after he looks at his ‘rejected’ hand, – Priceless….!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv2VoYruZBI
he was clearly just practising his jujitsu straight-finger death punch.
Surely in the circumstances Aer Lingus could have accepted an earlier booking with the name of the passengers to be filled in later?
Ate you joking Damocles?
No. In fact given the predictability of events like St Patrick’s day why can’t the Irish government have a standing agreement to transfer whoever is appropriate to the appropriate destinations? It shouldn’t actually be that hard to sort out.
Why would a private entity agree to something like that
Every time a national figure steps off an aer lingus plane and has their photo taken and that photo ends up in the papers in whichever country they are landing that’s free advertising.
Under the compulsoy pre-clearance scheme for U,S, security you have to have names and flights confirmed several weeks prior.
If that was absolutely the case you wouldn’t be able to book the flight 8 days prior as has happened in this case.
you can get an ESTA in under 8 days, but I don’t think its a “standard” one, you probably have to pay extra. People in my office have had to fly to the states at a days notice before.
An ESTA visa is good for 2 years isn’t it?
No problem with Ireland paying for events like this…..a pity they don’t pre-book a set number of seats for St Patrick’s day every year as this is a regular event, I’m sure the entourage is about the same size every year regardless of who get’s in after an election.
I imagine budgets and corporate travel rules within the Dept don’t allow for it. Such trips are normally booked well in advance, this was a particularly unusual event.
3000+ for an economy seat to washington?
My sister lives in the US so I travel there often enough. I pay 650 to get to seattle, and 350 to get to the east coast.
I guess whoever booked the flights added his own ‘booking fee’ to the cost of the flights… or he’s just a complete fool.
Also, would have been better to send Higgins over than the taoiseach as the country was without a government at that time. (Not to mention Higgins is a much better representative for Ireland than Enda)
Economy?
well, we had a government, all be it in a caretaker role. Higgins would have been plan B, however, politically neutral, and has no say over any legislation, so it would have been a waste of a trip an a one to one with Obama.
Jasus could you imagine the conversation. Oh the embarrassment. Id say Obama does be like “whats the story with that Sap”
Yup, international travel is expensive. What’s the problem? Should they be going to America in row boats?
Sure it’s only money so Kenny and his entourage can sleep easy at night. Money from the cash cow that is the Irish people.
should we cancel all foreign diplomatic trips?
Show me exactly where I suggested we should cancel all foreign diplomatic trips?
your complaint was that this trip was at the expense of the Irish tax payer, as are all foreign diplomatic trips.
My complaint is that cost is not an issue because Kenny and his ilk aren’t too bother about p!ssing away vast amounts of taxpayers money. Probably should have read the whole comment instead of just the second part.
The mile high club???
Gravy train? No, gravy jet nowadays!
Good man Gus. Seeing the value to our country of using these funds to promote our country through a moan. Fair play to you. Let’s not do it anymore so? That it? Serves no value?
We did not elect Finola Kenny why we paying her air fare? Security detail! That is a joke surely
I don’t agree with our leader leaving the country on our national holiday though since he is the price is insignificant due to tourism benefits.
Should he be sitting in front of a parade outside the empty Clearys instead?
*Clerys
what can he do here on Paddys day, that he cant do on the other 364 days?
Make freedom of information request, find something expensive, manufacture outrage. Honestly, is this journalism these days?
once thats done, complain about the cost of a freedom of information request!
That’ll teach us !!
Surely the civil servants at least could’ve been booked in as they wouldn’t have changed.
Why is there no private jet? It’s embarrassing that the wife of the leader of this country has to fly cattle class by herself with screaming kids all around! Wonder what her response was when Michelle Obama asked “How was your flight?”
If they brought in one job to the country over the course of the international visits , that would pay for the 37K.
No fan of Kenny and his cabinet , but i am reserving my outrage for something more outrageous
Non-Story!!! Nama….
Damn and it wasn’t even Emirates, ain’t no private suites with Aer Lingus.
Why does his wife have to go to work with him?
To make him look like slightly less of a sap, when he meets Presdent Obama and his first lady.
Unbefcukinglievable
I’ve sent my bank details direct to the current Government. It’s easier if they have direct access to the account to take all my money
That’s about the pay of a skivvy in an Irish hospital..
(Overpaid that they are all in the Irish Public Sector)
I know its expensive , but look at the amount of yanks that will be visiting the Emerald Isle pumping money into our economy , thanks for doing your bit for good old Irish / American relations Enda
Americans and Europeans visit Ireland because of the beautiful scenery in Ireland.
Not because of politicians in Dail Eireann.
No Austrian tourist is interested in Fine Gael.
Ah now. This epitomises wasting money.
Even if they were unsure of a government, it’d probably cost €50 to do a change-of-name if they’d booked in advance.
It Sums up blind spending, wasting money unnecessarily.
And Kenny & his entourage could have picked up a few political brownies by refusing to fly on a €37K flight, gone economy, and enjoy a bit of good press for once.
As a travel professional, I can honestly say those prices are exorbitant, even for very late bookings! Those economy class ticket prices are ridiculous, never mind the business class ones!
I cannot believe that price for either business or economy, even at a last minute booking. The travel broker is either a complete con artist, or completely useless.
Or it was st Patrick’s week in Ireland where land went way up
Flights that are completely packed – economy can go up to €3k.
I know.
I had to do so Christmas week for a work emergency to Washington.
Down the very back.
Last minute business class to DC was £4.3k. It’s not at all an unusual price.
Pity it wasn’t a one way ticket !
Considering the first 2 things Kenny mentions in the press briefing above, are related to the European Council, can we not get part of the trip payment reimbursed from the EU.
Taught no matter the outcome of the election that he be taoiseach at the time as the dail wasn’t going be be sitting till after the easter celebrations anyway. And him n his cabinet where going to be acting minsters anyway then and up till a new government was formed
Fascist dictators do as they like
Might be worth the few bob if the plane goes for a dip in the middle of the Atlantic , sure the plane will be insured..
I’m at a loss with the lad getting the BA flight from New York to Dublin is that a new service?
The Irish airforce should fly enda around
An active volcano and push him into it then?
Why is enda carrying an invincible box around in those photos, or is he a mime artist?
I think its a disgrace that the head of government has to use an airline to visit the us. We are a 1st world country which should have its own private jet for the president, taoiseach etc. I think it just shows the state of our country. Very poor in my oppinion.
NetJets!
Skype would be cheaper?
37 gigolos would be cheaper lol.
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